Kennedy to Direct Emergency Operations and Occupational Safety Initiatives
JONESBORO – Cole Kennedy joins Arkansas State University as the institution’s new director of emergency operations and occupational safety in early October.
Kennedy has worked for the past year at the Arkansas Department of Health in a pair of pandemic-related support roles, and has experience interning with the Yell County Office of Emergency Management and Russellville Regional Airport on emergency operation plans.
He will replace Jon Carvell, who transitioned to the professional faculty at Arkansas State in the Department of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management program at the start of the fall 2021 semester.
“We are looking ahead to Cole joining our team at A-State for emergency response, safety and training,” Dr. Lori Winn, assistant vice chancellor for Human Resources said. “We appreciate Jon’s years of service as our campus emergency manager, and I know he’ll continue to be a great resource in his new teaching role.”
At A-State, the areas of emergency management, risk prevention, environmental health and safety, and training report to Winn.
“Cole’s arrival is an important part our new team of on-campus professionals, dedicated to the safety and well-being of our entire campus community,” Winn added.
A graduate of Arkansas Tech University’s Emergency Administration and Management program, Kennedy is completing his Master of Science in Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
Kennedy joins Melissa Dooley, director of Environmental Health and Safety, as key members of the university’s response team.
